The Mind World And The Outcast Hero

A Deal With Death

Sindy and Andrew were barely alive. It would only take a few more minutes for them to succumb to their injuries. Unfortunately, Andrew had already passed out from too much blood loss. However, Sindy was still barely conscious. Due to this, she had witnessed the horrific scene of Scorpio puncturing Nathan's stomach. Sadly, she was too weak to even stand.

Nathan was now left unconscious in the dirt as Scorpio had left him to die.

However, Sindy refused to let this happen. Despite being in danger of losing consciousness at any moment, Sindy gathered her remaining strength. Nathan was far too important for her to leave him to die. She had to at least heal him before she succumbed to her injuries.

Utilizing her remaining strength, Sindy dug her fingers into the ground and pulled herself closer to Nathan. She groaned in discomfort as she did her best to endure the pain she felt. It felt as if someone was trying to rip her chest open.

"I can't let you die..!" She said as she crawled with tears in her eyes. "You have to survive... I have to heal you even if it's the last thing I do!"

 Fortunately, after a few seconds, she managed to reach Nathan. This was when Sindy noticed something horrifying. The light in Nathan's eyes had vanished. He looked as if he had just taken his last breath. 

Sindy didn't want to believe that Nathan was dead. Her heart pounded against her chest and her body submerged into apprehension. She wanted to scream atop her voice but blood had now filled her throat. Due to this, her screams of sadness came out in small "Nhs" and "Ths".

 Sindy almost felt like she no longer had a reason to live. Nathan had been with her ever since the tragic death of both her parents. He was the one who had given her life meaning again and showed her that life was still worth living. He and his mother had even accepted her as an extension of their family. If she lost him then her life would lose its meaning.

Nevertheless, Sindy refused to give up. She refused to accept that Nathan was dead. Desperately, she then extended her trembling hand over Nathan's wound.

"R-regeneration Art: Heal Pulse..." She muttered weakly.

Sindy then did her best to utilize her Regeneration Art to pump Nathan's heart back to life. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Nathan refused to wake up. Instead, he continued to drift away into darkness.

*****

Suddenly, Nathan found himself falling into a pool of black water that strangely resembled oil. This was when he noticed that he was now standing atop a dark oil-like lake. He was surrounded by darkness and could hardly see anything except the lake beneath him.

"What..? Where am I..?" He asked in bewilderment.

Just then, the lake pulled him underneath violently. Nathan flailed his arms and kicked his legs in resistance as air bubbles teased him with oxygen. His only thought was to find a way to escape.

 As if to make things worse, Nathan soon began to see many skeletons floating around him. The lake was filled with human bones as if many people had died there.

"Gugh!!!" Screamed Nathan as the water muffled his voice.

As if to respond to his voice once again, a sudden powerful push sent him flying out of the lake before he fell into a mound of black dirt. Stricken with horror, Nathan scurried across the ground. This was when he came to notice that he was somehow in a dark graveyard. Ravens were perched atop dead trees and he was surrounded by an endless sea of graves.

"COME!" Suddenly ordered a heavy dark voice.

 Nathan didn't know why but he felt compelled to follow the voice. He didn't find himself scared in the slightest.

Following this, Nathan slowly paced himself through the graveyard looking for the one who had called him. A minute later, he came across a large wilted tree that grew hundreds of feet into an endless abyss of darkness above. Under the tree was a scary figure who sat on a throne made of human skeletons. He had black eyes and dark flaming wings. His body burnt with dark cold flames and a dark ring was centered above his head like that of an angel.

"Why do you deny me?" Suddenly asked the nightmarish figure.

"Deny you..?" Mumbled Nathan. "I don't understand... What are you..?"

The figure frowned at Nathan's question, "My name is Death. I am an Angel of Death!"

Nathan immediately recalled the story that Donna had told him. She had told him that an Angel of Death had taken over his body on the Retrieval Mission. The figure before him had to be that angel.

"You're that angel that took over my body, aren't you? You're crazy if you think I'm going to let you take over again!"

"How crude!!" Boomed Death angrily. "Do you truly believe that I wish to be confined to the body of a mere brat like yourself?! I wish to find a way to free myself!"

"Then why are you inside me? I don't want you here!"

"You're a misguided fool. I do not know how I came to be within your body. It seems that I was sealed here and lost my memories..."

"Lost your memories..?"

"My memory is somehow distorted. Around two months ago, I found myself confined to this graveyard of death within the subconscious plain of your mind."

"My mind, huh..? So that's what this place is..."

Death then flapped his massive flaming wings as if to regain Nathan's attention.

"I do not wish to stay confined to your body any longer. I require that you hand your body to me so that I can be free. I need to know who sealed me inside of you!"

"Like hell, I will! All you'll do is kill my friends! Your malicious intent is so strong that even I can sense it!"

"Don't be foolish! You need my power to save your friends. I can tell that they're still alive. If you give me your body then I can save them!'

Nathan was shocked to hear this. Did this mean that Isabella was also still alive?

"Are you saying that Isabella's still alive?!"

"I can save her if you hand your body to me. My powers can heal any mortal wound, no matter how great. I can save all your friends!'

"But how can I be sure that you're not just trying to trick me..?"

"Have you forgotten that I was the one who saved your life when that Clique commander almost killed you? I can save your friends if you give me your body, Nathan. You'll die in exchange but it will be a painless death!"

Nathan then paused momentarily. Death's deal was very tempting. Not only would his friends be saved but he would be relieved of his painful duty as the Mind Hero. He could find peace in death.

However, despite this, Nathan couldn't allow himself to die. Not once in his life had he ever allowed himself to run away from his problems. No matter how tempting it seemed, he was willing to endure his pain. He would not abandon his duty as the Mind Hero.

"No, I won't do it..!"

"What?!" Exclaimed Death in shock as he picked himself up out of his throne. "What can a brat like yourself hope to do against the pain and hatred of this world?! You're too weak to save anyone! All your friends will die and your enemies will only crush you! Allow me to stand in your place!"

Nathan then took a moment to respond. He knew that Death was right. The Mind World and its problems were much bigger than him.

"I know I'm weak... I know I'm pathetic... I couldn't save anyone because of how useless I am! But even if I am, I won't give up! I'll keep fighting to become stronger!"

"How delusional! What can you do when you're about to die?! You talk big but you're at death's door! Without my help, you and your friends will die meaningless deaths!"

I know but that's why I want to make a deal with you!"

"A deal?"

"Yeah... I'll offer you a portion of my body if you lend me some of your strength!"

Death's flaming eyes widened in surprise at Nathan's deal. It had certainly caught his interest.

"I like where you're going with this but it's not that simple. To give me your body, I would have to take it all. I can not simply take a portion of it! However, I will still lend you my power."

"Wait... Why would you do that? If I can't give you my body then what do you gain from this?"

Before responding, Death pointed towards the letter on Nathan's arm.

"The letter D on your right arm is a part of a progress meter. If you continue to borrow my power then that progress meter will increase."

"A progress meter..? For what exactly?" Asked Nathan.

"Your mortal body can only handle a total of five partial transformations before it is destroyed. Each time you access my power, a new letter will appear on your right arm until my full name, DEATH, appears. These letters represent the progress until your body is destroyed."

"Then since I already have the letter D, that means the letter E will appear on my arm next, right?"

"Precisely."

"I must say that you're quite stupid to tell me the details..."

Death then laughed at Nathan's remark.

"Weaklings like yourself always require more power. I am certain that you'll come back to me over and over again! The weak can only become stronger by borrowing strength from the strong!" 

"Well, whatever. I'll accept that damned E if you lend me your strength."

"Hahaha! Fine then! I'll lend you a mere 3% of my power. Any more than that and you'll explode. Will that be okay with you, Nathan?"

Nathan then looked up into Death's flaming eyes one last time. Slowly, he then extended his arm towards him.

"Deal!"